School's out ... hello, summer!

One of my friends posted on Facebook the other day that she already wondered where summer had gone and it hadn't even started yet. That describes my feelings perfectly.

And I felt the same way last year - that there were so many things scratched down in the little squares on my calendar, the carefree days of summer would be gone before I had a chance to enjoy them. That's one of the bummers of having a spouse/parent who works away from home. Steve is as involved as he can be, communicating with all of us via phone and text, and making the trip home as often as possible. But he's not here to help with all the little things on a daily basis - the running around, attending activities, making a thousand and one decisions every day, and things as simple as cleaning up the kitchen after supper.

Some days I just need to tag out and let my partner be in charge. But that's not an option here, so I go for the next best option: I take some time for myself to recharge and then dive right back into the fray.

Today was the last day of school for our kids. It was mere hours after we got home that I started getting the questions about when friends could come over or when I could take them to go and do. I'm glad my children have such active social lives, but sheesh! A few minutes of downtime is ok, too. Alas, Rachel has already made plans for the weekend.

I have weekend plans myself. I'm taking a road trip, flying solo to West Virginia to spend a couple days with Steve. He'll be working but that's OK with me. I plan to sleep, read, enjoy the silence during the day and enjoy his company in the evenings. This is one of the benefits of having a spouse who works away from home: there is always someplace to take a little getaway. I can't even tell you how much I am looking forward to it. Every minute, from driving by myself to sleeping next to my husband to doing absolutely nothing for at least two full days ... I can't wait!

Let another busy, fun-filled summer begin!

A rare quiet morning.

I'm enjoying this Saturday morning of quietness. It's the first day in what feels like forever that I have nothing on my calendar - no commitments, no place to be. So I'm sipping my coffee and making plans to attack what's left of Mt. Laundry (after I already did a few loads last night) and try to make some order out of the chaos that is our house lately.

I love my new job. As I've told friends recently, the work is not life-altering. I'm not changing the world by processing people's water bill payments or answering questions about citywide trash pickup, but I am making a difference in my own little world. I'm making a (small) contribution to our family finances. I feel a sense of purpose. I'm teaching our children that mom has a life other than the one she's been focusing on them all these years (in other words, you'll have to learn to get yourself out of bed in the morning because I'm busy). I'm learning to manage my own time a little better.

It's just 20-ish hours a week, four days a week, which is just enough to push me to be more productive in the hours I am at home. And to appreciate those hours with my family, and in this home I love.

Steve is getting settled in back at work, too. After having him home for a few months and over the holidays, it's taking some adjusting. But we're making plans to visit him over spring break, which will be nice. I will welcome the change of scenery.

We're finally getting a glimpse of the end of winter. Every few days temps reach up into the 40's, which is enough to melt a little more snow. The roof of the house is clear now, but most of our yard is still covered with more than a foot of snow, all heavy and packed so hard we can walk on top of it. Yesterday it rained, and then last night snowed just enough that there was a dusting on the deck when I woke up. I am so over this winter. I've been looking at garden boards on Pinterest and flipping through my spring magazines, making plans for when I can finally get out there and work the soil. This week I picked up a small seed starter and planted some tomato seeds - I can't wait to have some GREEN around here! And I have other projects I'd like to tackle, too. Mostly furniture pieces that need to be taken outside and sanded so I can paint or stain them. I know ... patience. I've never been good at that.

I also want to finish some blog posts I've had hanging around over the past month. I think of something I want to share, start a post, and then get distracted. Story of my life. So ... while I'm waiting for the ground to thaw out, maybe I'll get some of those up.

Think spring!

Clean Slate Sunday: 5.12.13 edition

Happy Mother's Day!

It's been a nice day for this Mama. I got up early to prepare some treats for social hour at church, Rachel and I sat on either side of my mom during service, and I had a nice visit with my folks and then my mother-in-law. I can't decide which I appreciate more - the gifts my thoughtful girl gave me (a bouquet of tulips, a new planter, and a pretty plant she potted in Sunday School), or seeing my son so relieved after he was focused on caring for the life-like baby doll from his health class for two nights. (He did an amazing job, by the way.)

On top of all that, Rachel and her buddy - one of the neighbor girls - got together and schemed last week to make a surprise taco dinner party for their mamas. They even had a couple of adult accomplices who helped them do the shopping and pull things together while the moms were distracted. God bless them ... we were so surprised. And impressed! They even made a cake for dessert.

This past week Steve and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary. Well. We celebrated as much as a couple can when they're not in the same state. Which is pretty much saying "Happy Anniversary" to each other over the phone. But it's all good. I look forward to spending some time with him. Maybe we can go out for dinner or something when he's home next weekend.

In other news, asparagus season has begun, and that means I'll be out helping the neighbors pick it a few days a week. I'd love it if the weather doesn't get too crazy, though I won't hold my breath. I have my plants all tucked in under sheets tonight because there's a freeze warning. The good news about that is I have plants in the ground, and that makes me happy.

It feels like I have a bazillion half-baked projects going on and that kind of chaos makes it so I can't think straight, so I'm looking forward to the week ahead and getting some things taken care of around the house. First up: a good sleep.

Have a blessed week.

Good news.

Steve made it safely to Colorado.

And it's payday Friday.

That is all.


***


Enjoy your weekend, and don't forget to turn your clocks back an hour Saturday night or you'll be way too early for church on Sunday morning.

Clean Slate Sunday: 10.21.12 edition

Can you hear that happy sigh? That's me. I'm tired ... glad bedtime is near. And feeling blessed to have some wonderful memories to think of as I drift off tonight.

Steve was home for the weekend - something I hadn't been expecting. I'm always happy just to have him around, even if we don't have anything special planned. But it was a busy weekend for us: Steve took Sam to his bowling league on Saturday, we had dinner with my folks Saturday night (our annual get-together prior to mom and dad going to Florida for the winter), then today we spent a big chunk of time at church followed by a luncheon/celebration for our pastor's 25th year of ordination. I was so happy to be a part of his special day, and it was obvious Pastor Bill was touched by having so many people there to celebrate in his honor. We would have rushed off to get Rachel to a Girl Scout meeting, but that was canceled because so many girls and their families are ill ... good call by her leaders, if you ask me.

I was happy to have the afternoon free so I could take a nap; I didn't get much sleep last night because I was up and down with a sick puppy. I was awfully worried about him when he didn't eat this morning, but he seems to have recovered just fine, thank God.

So the kids are tucked into bed, the dogs have been taken out for one last stroll around the yard, and I am ready for the clean slate of a fresh week, starting Monday morning. The most exciting news for this week is that the project Steve has been working on in Detroit all summer is complete, so after Tuesday he is done on that job and he will be home - and pulling the travel trailer with him - on Wednesday. We're not sure where he will go next or when, but for the first time in ... ok, ever ... I am not worried about where this road will take us. He has lots of job leads out there, and standing job offers with folks he has worked with before, so we will be fine. I am looking forward to having a few days or even a couple of weeks to enjoy having him here with me and the kids.

Yep. That's a happy sigh.

Clean Slate Sunday: 9.16.12 edition

Here we are two weeks into the school year and I'm finally getting a handle on the whole routine again. Last week I had something going on every day in addition to having to pick Sam up from football practice every evening and attending his game on Wednesday, and by Friday night my brain and my nerves were fried. Fortunately we had an easy weekend and I was able to spend most of it at home catching up on a few things I had neglected during the week. Shoot, I didn't even get out of my pajamas on Saturday.

Now it's Sunday night and I am rejoicing in the calm and quiet. When the kids went to bed I turned off the lights and headed to my room, too. I have one dog snoring at the foot of the bed, a cat snuggled up next to her, the puppy asleep in his crate in the corner, and me with clean sheets and PJ's and my laptop. And peace.

It's been a while since I've done a Clean Slate Sunday post, but I would like to get back into the habit. Sunday nights have historically been one of my favorite times of each week - a time when we settle in early, prepare for the week ahead and look forward to new beginnings. My CSS posts began as a way for me to review what I had accomplished over the past few days and make a plan for the coming week. I need at least that much structure in my life. Planning is good. Lack of planning, not so good.

So I'm looking forward to the week ahead. It will be busy, but the calendar isn't quite so crowded as it was last week. I'm happy I will have a little more time to be at home taking care of business, doing some cleaning, and lots of puppy training. We're working on the basics right now: sit, stay, come, down, that kind of stuff. And continuing housebreaking, of course. It's been interesting doing all this with the puppy while still trying to accomplish some of those basics with a stubborn old hound dog who still has terrible manners. (Not for lack of us trying, either.) But for the most part it's great having two dogs in the house. They have become fast friends and they play and play and play until they wear each other out or we put them in separate corners, which is what usually happens. Only because we get sick of the barking. Because apparently chasing each other around the furniture, playing tug-o-war with toys or terrorizing the cats isn't enough. We must also make noise! Aye yi yi. We're working on teaching them to use their inside voices. But there again, we've been trying to get Ladybug to stop barking when told to for four years now. So far? FAIL. That whole hunting/barking thing is pretty deeply engrained in that one.

Anywho, I've been trying to get a picture of these dogs roughhousing over the past couple of days because they look so stinkin' funny. Gunnar pulls his lips back and shows those vicious puppy teeth, and Ladybug basically pins him to the floor by the neck. He pulls a sneak attack and nibbles at her hind legs, so she whips around and chases him until he squeezes into the space between the back of the couch and the wall (which will be impossible - or at least much tougher - for him in a couple months). I got a dozen pictures with two black-and-tan blurs, a couple videos with lots of barking going on, and this:

The panting puppy with crazy alien eyes, poised to defend himself against the howling hound.

It's a pretty accurate picture of our days lately. It's like the canine UFC around here. Last pup standing gets the peanut butter-filled Kong. Or something like that. Fun times.

Clean Slate Sunday: 5.6.12 edition

Let's see. Some highlights.

Steve came home just for the night last night. We had a good visit, slept in, and we were all happy that he made waffles for us this morning. He's back at the campground near Detroit tonight.

Yesterday I started picking asparagus with the neighbors. 'Tis the season. My body aches in places it hasn't ached since last June when we were done picking. The season usually lasts 5-6 weeks.

I used the last of the tissues today. I am so tired of sneezing. I hate allergies.

Sam was out with his Papa and Uncle T setting posts for signs on the hunting property (near our house) yesterday and the three of them saw a mama black bear and three cubs. I am now slightly nervous to walk the dog after dark. Or ever.

Apparently I suck at applying nail polish to other people's nails. In my defense, it's really hard to paint only the tips of fingernails that have been gnawed off.

I love my animals. I do. But sometimes they make me question my sanity. Two-thirds of our four-legged friends just about sent me to the loony bin this past week. It has a lot to do with poop and puke and barking and howling. Oy.

I woke up from a nap today to find a tick crawling on my arm. (See previous comment re: animals.) *shudder* I hate ticks. Now every little tweak or itch makes me think I have more on me. Bleh.

I finished building and staking-in my raised garden beds last week. Then it started raining and I haven't gotten back out there to do any more. This week I'm hoping to get them leveled with some sand in the bottom (they're on a small slope so there are gaps between the wood and the ground on one end) and get them filled with good soil. And then ... plants!

Have a great week.

Clean Slate Sunday: Easter 2012 edition

I sure wish I had gotten a picture of our family at church this morning. I've really enjoyed seeing the pictures friends are posting on Facebook of their children and families all decked out in their Easter best. But it was a small miracle all four of us made it to the sunrise Easter Vigil this morning anyway ... I didn't want to push it by asking the kids to feign bright eyes and bushy tails for a family photo.

It's been a really nice day. I always love walking into our church on Easter morning and - after the solemnity of Good Friday and a stripped altar - seeing the bright white linens, smelling all those pretty spring flowers, and watching the kids turn their heads to see candy-filled Easter eggs tucked in every corner, on every window ledge, in each pew, and scattered all over the place. I love the celebration, the reminder that we are forgiven, the fellowship with friends and family.

And so here we are again on a Sunday evening, a full weekend in the rear-view mirror, Steve back to work for the week, and household tasks calling my name.

I am ready for summer. I'm ready to ditch the alarm clock and let Sunday night be just another night. I do appreciate routine and my kids seem to do best when we have at least some semblance of a schedule, but I'm plum tired of school mornings. I'm tired of always feeling like we're rushed to eat dinner, finish homework and get the kids prepared for the next day, every evening. I'm ready to relax.

I'm looking forward to getting some things done in the yard this week. The grass needs to be mowed (I can't believe it, considering it's only April 8) and there is some cleanup to do still. Other than that I only have a couple of things on the calendar ... though it tends to fill in pretty quickly once the week gets started.

I hope everyone has had an enjoyable and blessed Easter. Looking forward to a fresh start tomorrow ...

There's a light at the end of the tunnel.

Today is the last day of the kids' Saturday morning bowling league.

Thank you, Jesus.

I really have fun watching them and bowling has become something both Sam and Rachel really enjoy, but after 20-some weeks of hanging out at the bowling alley for a good chunk of time every Saturday, I'm ready for it to be over.

Rachel won't be bowling today, though. This morning she's attending a class at church to prepare for her First Communion tomorrow.

Did I mention it's going to be a crazy busy weekend for us?

Rachel, particularly, had so many opportunities to go and do stuff that she had to decide what she would miss. Tough stuff for a 10-yr-old, but that's life.

I'm really looking forward to spending more time out working in the yard this afternoon. I was out there last night cleaning out my flower beds and doing some raking (dang stubborn oak leaves don't fall until now) and I'm excited to have some green popping up around the yard.

You would think that after some physical activity and fresh air I would have fallen right to sleep last night when I crawled into bed. But no. My mind raced with plans and lists and ideas - for outside, inside, the weekend, the summer, and on and on. So I'm awake ... but yawning. And these tired bones are moving pretty slowly.

Time for coffee.

Oh! And Happy St. Patrick's Day. Enjoy your weekend.

Snowpocalypse!

Some heavy, wet snow had begun to fall when I went to bed last night, and we woke up to a winter wonderland this morning. Go figure. It's the 3rd of March.

When Sam looked outside he said, "Mom, it looks like Narnia!"

Standing under a tree, looking up ...

It's beautiful out there. And I feel very fortunate that we have just a little snow to deal with while other parts of the country are digging out from under the rubble after tornadoes hit yesterday and last night. I was so glad to hear from a friend in Henryville, IN this morning; she and her family are safe, but her father's downtown Henryville shop where he worked on his race care is demolished. I got a little teary-eyed flipping through some of the photos and news coverage of the aftermath. So much destruction ... and so devastating. My prayers are with the folks touched by these storms.

Be careful out there, y'all.

We're back!

Oh boy, does it feel good to kick back in a recliner in my own living space and stretch my limbs after a loooong drive today. It took us 12 hours to get home - at least 11 of that in driving time, the other hour or so spent on potty breaks, snack stops and gasoline fill-ups.

Hmm. Maybe 10.5 hours of driving. Which by the way? I have decided is my limit.

But two days' worth of driving sun up to sun down - to Pennsylvania on Friday and back home again today - was worth every minute to be able to spend two full days together as a family. I think it was a morale booster for all of us.

I have lots to share about our trip, and a few so-so photos from the camera on my phone (because yeah, my camera was one of a handful of things I forgot to take with me) but it will all keep until tomorrow when I am a little less bleary-eyed.

For now, bedtime.

Monday, Monday, Monday!

Happy Monday, folks!

Wow. I am just in awe over my surroundings lately. As I was walking into the house from the front yard yesterday I had to stop and take it all in. The fall colors are just amazing. The air has been nice and warm during the days and cool at night and I am lovin' it. Sounds like we have a few more days of this and then it's going to turn cooler again. I'm ok with that, too.

Yeah, I totally teased you with that comment about the fall colors and I have no pictures for you. I'll try to remedy that today because I plan to spend some time outdoors. (And as I type I'm looking out the window to see leaves floating down onto the ground. Gorgeous!) I keep saying I'm going to do some cleanup in the yard and then I go out there and get started and I get distracted by something else. Lame. I need to pull the rest of the plants out of the veggie beds, plant some perennials I bought on clearance, and do some general tidying up and tucking things away before the snow flies. Because ... ugh ... it will be here before we know it and if I don't get this stuff done I will be kicking myself.

And - excitement abounds! - I have someone coming to install a water softener today. Praise Jesus! This is something we have really needed since we moved in, but somehow it always got pushed to the bottom of the list. (It's pretty easy to push things to the bottom of the list when they require spending a chunk o' change. And they're not as fun as a big-screen TV. *ahem*) After today I won't have to scrub the showers so hard, the dishwasher will work better, my skin will be softer, the faucets won't be all crusty, and my coffee will even taste better. Hallelujah!

AND ... why not continue my randomness with a few pictures from the weekend? OK, I will then.

The kids and I visited one of our favorite local parks on Lake Michigan Saturday afternoon. There's a great playground and sculpture park and you can watch boats going in and out of the harbor all day long.

I let Sam and Rachel go off and play while I stretched out in the grass and soaked up some sun. Until Rachel came racing over and hollered, "Mom! Take a picture of me!"

I obliged.

What a joker. Believe me, she is never, ever this still or quiet at home.

Both the kids' favorite: the zip-line-type-thingamabob. 

(Ha! Notice how Sam's feet touch the ground?)

Hm. Yeah. He doesn't get quite as excited as Rachel does about having pictures taken.

Still cute, though.

Exhibit B, the self portraits:

Sometimes the outtakes are the best.

Chillin' on a fall weekend.

It's Saturday. It's October. The sun is shining. And we have absolutely no commitments today.

I'm totally taking advantage of it and working my kids like new recruits.

Kidding! Kinda'. It took a bit to get them going, but eventually they realized I meant business and got their little buns to work. It's amazing what little effort it takes to clear some clutter and clean things up, but until then? It makes me crazy. There was a pile of shoes and boots and flip-flops and sand near the front door that made me grit my teeth every time I walked through there.

Did you see that? Boots and flip-flops. Yes, they were both worn in the same week.

I love Michigan.

I've been flipping between HGTV and The Food Network for inspiration today, and it sure makes me want to tackle a few DIY projects and spend some time in the kitchen, too. But I can't ignore the sunshine that is beckoning me to go outside and play after days upon days of rain. So I'm off to do a little cleanup in the yard and soak up some Vitamin D.

Enjoy your weekend!

Rain, rain, go away!

Good grief, it's been raining so much around here these days I'm about ready to start building an ark.

Except the rain makes me want to sleep all day.

Hmm. Save the world two by two ... or take a really long nap. I think I'll take my chances that the water won't rise too much. And, well, I haven't gotten any messages from The Big Guy about gathering up the animals, have you?

But I gotta' do something today, even if it means dodging raindrops and fighting the wind to run a few errands.

When the weather gets like this my kids ask for comfort foods so I've been poring over my cookbooks and searching on-line for some yummy recipes to try. I'm also working on using up some of our stocked-up foods in the pantry and freezers and incorporating some tomatoes from my garden that have finally ripened.

Last night Rachel and I made mini quiches and I chopped up some tomato to include in mine (the kids don't care for tomatoes unless they're in a non-chunky sauce). I was a meanie and insisted everyone have spinach, though. Sam was elated. Rachel, not so much. But she enjoyed helping me cook.

Yum!

I think I'll pick up some extra baking supplies today. I look forward to the house smelling like homemade bread ... cookies ... and who knows what else. Mmmm!

Happy Friday, all! Enjoy your weekend.

Zoo Snooze.

The last big event for me and Rachel this summer was a trip to the Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek to stay overnight with her Girl Scout troop. We had a blast. This is what we did while Steve and Sam were in Bristol, TN, for the NASCAR race.

We were locked in with two interpreters after the zoo closed Saturday evening. The girls played games, did an activity revolving around building an exhibit for the animal of their choice, got to see a few small animals up close, took an after-dark stroll around the zoo, and in the morning we were given passes to see all of the zoo we hadn't seen the night before.

 

Rachel pets a blue tongued skink held by Interpreter Jenny. The skink is one of those animals that can lose it's tail and grow a new one, but this reptile has her original tail.

 Uno, the one-eyed screech owl. She lost her eye when she was struck by a car. She was rehabilitated and sent to the zoo to be an education animal.

 

Kangaroos. So stinkin' cute when they hop away!

 Rachel checking out the boa constrictors. These are BIG snakes. Biiiiig.

 The male snow leopard. This was so cool; we got to watch him come out from his holding area in the morning before the zoo opened. The girls were asked to be quiet and stand back from the glass until he got used to the activity. He stood outside his door for just a few seconds before he came right over to the glass to check us out. So curious ... just like a house cat!

Prairie dogs. Wicked cute when they pop up out of their holes.

 Mr. Emu. (Or is it missus?)

CHEETAH!!!

The tram we took from where we stayed overnight to the zoo's Africa display where we saw ...

Giraffes! Feeding lettuce to the giraffes was Rachel's favorite part of the weekend.

They are just beautiful. And the babies? Adorbs!

 Does it get any cuter?

 Fun drinking fountain. :)

At the end of our tour of Africa. This zoo did a fantastic job with the exhibit. I would love to go back and do it again.

Self portrait with my "Mini Me" at Steak-n-Shake on the way home after a busy, exhausting weekend.

Garden love.

Hello! Happy Post-Holiday Hump Day!

Not a lot of news to report here from the Pipe Lifers. No major life events, no major changes. Which is kind of nice. We're rollin' along, just enjoying the summer. The weather's been beautiful here lately and we have no commitments. I'm totally diggin' it.

In fact, as I write I'm sitting outside on the deck listening to the birds, enjoying the late-afternoon shade and cool breeze, and sipping a Diet Dr. Pepper.

Life just doesn't get much better than this.

We had a wonderful holiday weekend with Steve home. Lots of time with family and friends, including a trip up north to my uncle's house on a gorgeous, crystal-clear lake where we chilled all day, ate massive amounts of food (well, some of us did), watched the kids young and old jump off the end of the dock, and caught up with the extended family we don't see often enough. And who can forget one of the big highlights of the day: homemade ice cream. One helping just isn't enough.

The remainder of the weekend we hung out at home, washing laundry and doing yard work like "normal" families do. Heh. Then we celebrated Independence Day with more food, more good times, and a few fireworks at our annual neighborhood 4th of July party. Steve made the drive back to WV on Tuesday and is back to work today.

It was a longer weekend than he usually gets to be here, but it's never long enough.

Me? I'm doing lots of gardening. If there's no weeding or watering to be done I'm plotting the next perennial garden, checking my vegetable plants for buds, or just sitting and taking it all in.

I walk around the yard probably once a day just to see how things have changed. Mostly it looks pretty good (if I do say so myself) but I do have a few plants that are looking pretty run-down; I'm not sure if they've had too much or too little water or there's something else wrong, but I'm going to give them just a little more time. I think one of the coolest things about gardening - next to having a beautiful one - is bringing something back from the brink of death.

Here's a look at some of what I've got going on ...

Two raised beds for veggies. The front one (where Rachel is showing off her cabbage plant) has been growing for a few weeks. The other one I just finished putting together over the weekend.

 Grape tomatoes! We also have Lemon Boy, Yellow Pear, Romas, and Better Boy varieties planted.

 Cucumber plants flowering. We're also growing green peppers, zucchini, jalapenos, Brussels sprouts, green beans and a few herbs.

 Bellflowers thriving in the mostly shaded area next to the storage shed. I love these!

My Fuschia plant is about to burst! The last few years I've been hanging a Fuschia on one side of a double shepherd's hook and my hummingbird feeder on the other side. The hummingbirds love it and they're very entertaining to watch.

Potted zinnias on the patio table ... my little oasis.

I'll post more pictures of my perennials another day. Right now they're getting a shower, so they're not looking their best.

I've got a lot going on in the yard and I'm really enjoying keeping up with it. The added bonus is it keeps me occupied while Steve is gone.

So the kids might be saying "I'm boooooored" a hundred times a day, but you won't hear it from me.

Checking in.

Friday again already. Whew. I have been crazy busy and by the time I sit down at night I'm too tired to catch up in blogland. But I'm alive! In case anyone was wondering.

Steve is settling in in West Virginia. He's happy with his work, which makes me happy.

The kids have one week left of school. I think we might all live to see summer vacation.

My days have been filled with a constant rotation of activities. Planting stuff, building stuff, picking asparagus with the neighbors, tending to all the other living creatures in the household - two-legged and four-legged - and all the other stuff that goes with being mom and dad and homeowner.

I sure haven't had any trouble falling to sleep when I crawl into bed at night. And I'm not a sun worshiper but I'm beginning to look like one; I've been out in it a lot lately.

For once in what seems like ages we have absolutely nothing on our calendar for the weekend. I could get used to that. I'm going to pick up a few more plants today and hopefully I'll have some time to sit back and relax for a while.

Have a great weekend!

Memorial Day

I wanted to write something thought-provoking about Memorial Day, but after a busy weekend and a day spent out in the sunshine today I'm just too tired. I do want to get a couple things in writing before I wander off to dream land, though - because this blog is as much a journal and way for me to remember things as it is a way to share stories and recent happenings with others, and a year from now I'll be happy I can look back on what we did today.

Rachel walked in the local Memorial Day parade with her Girl Scout troop. I was so proud of her. I took a couple of pictures of her with my cell phone, but apparently I didn't hit "save" because those pictures are nowhere to be seen. She looked so cute carrying a Girl Scout flag and wearing her Brownie vest with all the patches she has earned.

My parents came into town to see Rachel in the parade. It had been years since any of us participated in Memorial Day activities, and I chuckled with my dad - who served with the Michigan National Guard - about whether he had brought a handful of tissues with him. Dad gets choked up when he hears the national anthem, and I'm afraid I inherited that sappiness from him. An entire parade dedicated to the military and those who lost their lives serving our country would have us both a wreck.

Following the parade we stayed for the beach side memorial ceremony, and then drove over to the cemetery to see the grave marker at my grandma's and grandpa's grave (he was cremated when he died in '02 and they were buried together when grandma died this year). I was proud to see the American flag waving next to the stone; my grandfather was a Merchant Marine and served in WWII.

I imagine it would make anyone proud looking out across that huge cemetery and seeing so many of those flags. So many servicemen and women who called this area home. So much history. And we're a part of it in some small way.

I was glad to share this day with my parents and my children, and to allow my kids to witness and participate in the show of respect for all who serve this great country. And particularly on this day, those who lost their lives while doing so. We have several family members and many friends who have and do serve in the military, and we have been fortunate and blessed to have them all return home safely. I pray that continues to be the case. But for all those we welcome home, there are those who don't come home, and whose families forever have a void in their lives that will never be filled. We owe those families our deepest respect and appreciation for their loved one's service.

Happy Memorial Day.

Here we go AGAIN!

What a crazy few days it's been.

The kids and I went to visit Steve over the weekend which was absolutely wonderful because he was staying at a campground we are familiar with and we had a great time.

Sam found the new rope swing ...

Rachel was in heaven with the petting zoo barn cat's four new kittens (in addition to a mix of other animals including bunnies, baby goats, a deer and a pig) ...

And we saw one of the several peacocks all fanned out, which was absolutely enthralling ...

The crazy part was that we were hardly settled in before Steve told me he had arranged to go back to Pennsylvania to work, having reached his limit of frustration and micro-managing with his current employer. So Saturday - the next day - would be his last day.

Hhhhhhhhhh.

This was not exactly a surprise to me. I knew Steve had been unhappy with some recent developments on this job and I had encouraged him to hang in there as long as he could, which he did. I had also let him know, in essence, that quality of life is far more important than money or location.

Actually I believe my words were, "Whatever you need to do. You're no good to me if you're grumpy and depressed all the time!"

So on Sunday we all headed home. We got to spend some quality time together as a family, and Steve and I had a nice day together today when we took our travel trailer (Steve's home away from home) to the RV dealer to have an awning installed.

Somewhere in the meantime, plans changed from Steve going to PA to Steve heading to West Virginia. That's just how quickly things can change. And that's fine; it's all good. He leaves tomorrow after Sam and Rachel get on the school bus.

Tonight I've been trying to do all the "normal" school night stuff to help the kids get ready for another day while also helping Steve get ready to go, however I can. And it's a beautiful night - crickets chirping, frogs croaking, a cool breeze working on blowing a storm in, and the sky turned a glowing pink/orange as the sun went down. I stopped to admire the color and was surprised by a rainbow painted across the sky in front of our house. I hurried outside to take pictures and I could hardly get the whole expanse of it with my little camera.

This one is my favorite:

 I'll take this as a sign we're going in the right direction.

Clean Slate Sunday: 2.27.11 edition

Whew.

It's been a long week. I'm ready for some down time - some me time. Ready to get back to the routines of school and housework and taking the dog for walks and whatever else my typically-boring everyday life entails.

I know I need to do some grieving. The fact that grandma is gone is starting to sink in. Her passing and then funeral, along with some other family- and friend-related stuff that came up last week, has me needing to take a few deep breaths, turn inward and just ... relax.

There is a lot of processing ahead for me. Lots of feelings to sort through. And that will take time.

For now, rest. A good night of sleep in my own bed after spending the weekend away.

Time to bury myself under the covers and look forward to a fresh start in the morning.

G'night.